The host’s voice echoed through the speakers, drowning out all the chaotic noise.
This voice acted like a calming pill, gradually quieting the restless crowd.
People crowded around the emergency exit, waiting for the lights to come back on.
However, the silence didn’t last long. Suddenly, a startled voice exclaimed, “Look over there, what’s that glowing thing?”
“Hey, it looks like a painting!” another voice responded.
Soon, everyone crowded around the emergency exit turned their gaze in the same direction.
Illuminated by the glow of the fluorite, an ancient painting became clearly visible.
Under a pine tree, on a large rock, a fierce tiger was depicted roaring with its mouth wide open.
Due to the transparency effect caused by the fluorite, the tiger in the painting looked almost alive, as if it would leap out at any moment.
The atmosphere quieted down again as everyone stared at the magical painting, their fear of the dark momentarily forgotten.
As time ticked by, the silence was gradually replaced by whispers.
“Which antique shop does this painting belong to? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It seems to be from Spirit Moon Antiques. I remember there used to be a cartoon-style ink painting in that spot. How did it change completely?”
“Tiger’s Roar in the Forest! This is Tang Yin’s original work, Tiger’s Roar in the Forest!”
As people slowly moved closer to Spirit Moon Antiques’ booth, the lights suddenly came back on.
The authentic Tiger’s Roar in the Forest immediately turned into an exaggerated and humorous version.
“This is a painting within a painting!” someone knowledgeable shouted.
Immediately, a crowd surged towards Spirit Moon Antiques’ booth.
Soon after, Top Scholar Tickets began appearing on the display table, with one wealthy individual even asking how much the painting within a painting cost because they wanted to buy it for their collection.
Behind the booth, Christine’s eyes narrowed with joy. Her previously gloomy face now shone brightly, barely containing her laughter.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the lighting has been restored. Please continue to browse and appreciate the exhibits. The third round of voting will take place in twenty minutes,” announced the host.
On the large screen at the center of the stage, the name “Spirit Moon Antiques” rapidly climbed up the rankings.
Twenty minutes later, the rankings were displayed on the big screen.
A female voice announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a change in the rankings. In first place is Spirit Moon Antiques with Tiger’s Roar in the Forest, accumulating 122 Top Scholar Tickets.”
“In second place is RH Auction Company with Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, earning 93 Top Scholar Tickets; and in third place is Bonham Auction House with Cold Smoke, Clear Spring and Rain, receiving 82 Top Scholar Tickets!”
“The final voting results will be tallied in thirty minutes.”
Seeing the numbers on the big screen, Ethan felt a rush of blood to his head, unable to believe his eyes.
“What’s going on? How did you manage this?” he shouted at a man beside him, spraying him with spittle.
The man looked equally incredulous and nervously replied, “Mr. Dan, it has nothing to do with me. I did everything we agreed upon. Who knew Spirit Moon Antiques would suddenly bring out a painting within a painting!”
“Get lost!” Ethan knew that the appearance of the painting within a painting was an unexpected event. Seeing Spirit Moon Antiques’ Tiger’s Roar in the Forest garnering more votes by the minute, he could no longer sit still.
Ethan understood very well what winning this exhibition would mean for an unknown antique shop.
Leveraging the movie Ghost Scholar along with official promotional marketing would be far more effective than spending millions on advertising.
If that happened, his plan to drive Christine and her sister out this year would fail.
Ethan ran towards Spirit Moon Antiques’ booth.
A crowd had gathered in front of the booth, all discussing the wonders of Tiger’s Roar in the Forest.
The more Ethan listened, the more frustrated he became. He pushed his way through the crowd!
“Hey, what’s wrong with you? Why are you pushing?” an older woman complained after being jostled by Ethan.
“I’m voting!” Ethan replied curtly.
“Hmph, so what if you’re voting!”
Ignoring her, Ethan squeezed through the crowd and fixed his gaze on a black woven bag under the display table. He silently prayed while hesitating until thirty minutes later when the host’s voice rang out again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, voting for the Ghost Scholar Exhibition has ended. Please look at the big screen!”
“The first place goes to Spirit Moon Antiques’ Tiger’s Roar in the Forest. Please return to your seats.”
Ethan pushed his way out of the crowd and headed to the emergency exit. He took out his phone and made a call; he decided to use his last resort.
The unexpected turn of events made Christine and Arlene cheer uncontrollably.
After everyone from various shops, auction houses, and antique stores returned to their seats, Charles reappeared on stage, still wearing his blood-red robe.
“Now please welcome Spirit Moon Antiques to come up on stage!” announced the host loudly.
Applause erupted from the audience.
Leo took down Tiger’s Roar in the Forest and handed it to Christine. The three of them then walked onto the stage together.
Standing before Charles, Christine held Tiger’s Roar in the Forest and presented it to him.
Charles, playing Ghost Scholar, received Tiger’s Roar in the Forest with both hands and reverently placed it into a bronze basin on the table.
The bronze basin was initially empty, but as soon as Tiger’s Roar in the Forest was placed inside, red vein-like patterns began to creep up onto it as if red tree roots were entering the painting.
This scene was clearly displayed on the large screen behind the stage as the lights gradually dimmed. Everyone held their breath.
Ghost Scholar’s voice began to chant scriptures with a 3D-like surround sound effect.
His voice carried a sense of reluctance and sorrow that could be distinctly heard.
If Leo had looked at Arlene’s eyes at that moment, he would have seen them brimming with tears.
In Ghost Scholar’s movie ending, Cindy the ghost saved the scholar from a haunted house but was destroyed by a ghost king, leaving only a lingering spirit within a painting drawn by the scholar.
To help Cindy reincarnate, the scholar sacrificed his lifespan and used a monk’s scripture to perform a ritual for her soul’s passage.
In the movie, as he chanted, he aged rapidly until he became an old man with white hair on his deathbed.
For Leo, who wasn’t deeply familiar with the movie, this scene felt somewhat out of place. His interest was entirely focused on that bronze basin with its blood-red patterns.